As a Professional Painter, Do I Need Insurance? A Painters’ Insurance Guide



Key Takeaways:

• As a business owner, painters’ liability insurance and other related insurance options help safeguard your business from costly claims and legal disputes.
• How much does painters’ insurance cost? It depends on several factors—this guide is designed to help balance affordability with appropriate protection.
• Comprehensive coverage enhances professional standing and improves your company’s image in the eyes of potential customers.

Being a professional painter with a painting company brings a unique set of possible risks. From property damage to worker injuries, it’s important to insure against all the possible things that might go wrong during the course of business.

Beyond being an important safety net, business insurance lends a boost to professional credibility and can be a deciding factor in contracting decisions for clients.

This guide explores the different types of business insurance for painting contractors, including painters’ liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and much more. We investigate ways to limit liability, ensure financial protection, and develop strategies to improve coverage costs.

Starting at the Core with Painters’ Liability Insurance

This is the one you need above all others—it’s easily the best insurance for house painters. Most business experts will advise you to start with a strong painters’ liability insurance policy and supplement with additional types of coverage that make sense for your style of business, e.g., residential vs. commercial, size of projects, number of employees, etc.

Painters’ liability insurance, also called commercial or general liability insurance, protects your business and assets from financial claims that arise during the normal course of business. This insurance covers specific areas of business for a painting contractor, including:

• Bodily Injury and Property Damage — If a customer or third party should be injured or property damaged as a result of your business operations, this policy will cover the claim.

Examples of this could include:

• • A customer trips over a paint can and is injured.
  • If paint is accidentally spilled on a customer’s carpet or furniture.
  • A ladder accidentally damages wall coverings or pictures.
  • An employee causes damage to the exterior of a client’s home or landscaping while spraying paint.
• Personal or Advertising Injury — This protects you from libel, slander, or copyright infringement claims that could result from your business’s advertising or general comments. This should also include postings on your website and social media.
• Medical Claims — This coverage pays the expenses for medical office visits, doctors’ appointments, emergency rooms, etc. It protects any non-employee who might be injured by your business operations, e.g., paint fumes that make someone sick.
• Damages to Premises — If you rent space to house your business, liability insurance will cover any damage that occurs to the premises.

Painters’ liability insurance doesn’t cover things like employee injuries, auto accidents, poor professional services, intentional or illegal acts by you or an employee, or damage to your business property, like tools or scaffolding. Without it, you run the risk of financial problems if you experience a claim and have to pay out of pocket.

By having painters’ liability insurance, you gain customers’ trust and ensure your business is sustainable.

Round Out Your Insurance Arsenal

Beyond painters’ liability insurance, there are a whole host of coverage options that help to create a comprehensive business insurance program. And by using an online third-party source for personal and business insurance, like einsurance.com, you can find an experienced business insurance expert who can help you determine the best coverage and price for your circumstances.

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Most companies will bundle a custom package that usually includes painters’ liability insurance and commercial property insurance, along with other policies that fit your business, e.g., commercial auto, business interruption, etc. This is where a seasoned pro will be a big benefit in helping you put together your insurance package.

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you own or lease vehicles for your business, you will want to cover them with a commercial auto insurance policy. This type of policy covers accidents, damages, and medical injuries for you or your employees while driving for work. It also covers employees when driving their personal vehicles for work-related activities.

Your personal auto insurance policy won’t cover you for work-related accidents, so be sure to explore your options for a commercial auto policy. Also, most states require commercial auto insurance – check your state here.

Commercial auto insurance works much the same as personal auto insurance. You can choose the same options for coverage:

• Liability — Covers bodily injury (pays for injuries to people in an accident that involves your business vehicle and you or your employees are at fault) and property damage (pays for damage to other vehicles or property involved in an accident).
• Collision — Covers the damage to your business vehicle, regardless of fault.
• Comprehensive — Covers the damage to your vehicle from theft, vandalism, weather events, and more.
• Medical Payments — Covers medical expenses for anyone injured in the accident, regardless of fault.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist — Provides both bodily injury and property damage protection if you are in an accident with someone uninsured or underinsured.
• Like personal auto, commercial auto insurance can also include coverages like loan gap coverage, roadside assistance, and electronic equipment coverage.

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance is important to protect property that you own or rent for business purposes. It could be a storefront, building, or storage facility. This type of insurance protects your physical property, as well as equipment, supplies, paint inventory, etc., from fire, theft, vandalism, natural disasters and more.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Most states require workers’ compensation insurance for businesses with employees. Workers’ compensation insurance covers injuries and accidents to anyone working on your behalf, and injuries are common in the construction field. You can opt to include yourself in this coverage as well, which is a good idea since more personal insurance policies exclude injuries related to work.

This type of insurance is extremely important for painters and owners of painting companies because: 1) it’s legislatively mandated in most states, and 2) employee accidents and injuries can be very costly and even put your business and personal assets at risk.

Workers’ compensation provides medical payments for doctors, dentists, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, and ancillary services, such as physical therapy, as well as lost wages and retraining if an employee is temporarily or permanently disabled.

Business Interruption Insurance

If your business experiences a temporary closure or suspension of services due to a covered event, like a natural disaster or a fire, business interruption insurance will help replace lost income and cover some of your ongoing expenses.

Tools and Equipment Insurance

Painting equipment can be expensive. Scaffolding, ladders, sprayers, and paint can be lost, stolen, or damaged, and tools and equipment insurance can provide replacement costs to keep your business running on time. Note: This insurance typically does not cover employee theft.

You may also want to explore Inland Marine Insurance which covers tools and equipment when it is being moved from one location to another. This can be crucial when moving tools and equipment from one location to another.

Commercial Umbrella Insurance

Umbrella Insurance adds an additional layer of protection and coverage that kicks in when you have reached your limits on your underlying liability insurance, workers’ compensation, or commercial auto insurance.

How Much Does Painters’ Insurance Cost?

Like so many things in the insurance industry, it’s difficult to project costs without the specifics of your individual business. However, business insurance tends to be very affordable for most businesses and brings extraordinary peace of mind.

Here are some of the factors that will impact your costs:

• Business Size and Number of Employees — How many employees and independent contractors do you have? How large is your business? If you experience substantial changes to the size of your company, be sure to have your insurance reevaluated quickly to lessen any risk.
• Service Scope and Revenue — Bigger projects and sources of revenue will require more coverage and higher premiums, e.g., commercial vs. residential, height work, exterior vs. interior.
• Location — Where you do business can impact premiums. State and local laws, geographic risks, and worsening weather conditions can all impact coverage costs.
• Claims History ­— Your claims history informs the insurance company of your safety record and will have an impact on costs. Work to keep accidents, injuries, and claims to a minimum when possible.

Visit einsurance.com to find a quote and speak with an expert. Having a dedicated agent on your side can help you to get the best bundles, discounts, and prices.

What are Some Risk Management Strategies to Help Lower My Premiums?

Proactive risk control can help reduce insurance costs by providing a safe environment for you and your workers. Here are five ideas that can lead to a better, safer workplace where everyone goes home at night.

1. Safety Training and Certifications — Offer job site safety training and classes on OSHA compliance. In the painting industry, you often work with toxic chemicals and harsh cleaning products — all regulated by federal safety precautions. Be sure your employees understand how to keep themselves and their customers safe.
2. Provide Safety Equipment and Require Its Use — Be sure to educate yourself and employees on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and its proper use. From respirators, gloves, and eye protection to proper clothing and footwear, safety is key.
3. Equipment Maintenance — Follow all preventive maintenance recommendations for equipment, including ladders, lifts, and sprayers. Ensure you provide the equipment that’s right for the job, e.g., ladders that are tall enough, properly maintained lifts and sprayers, etc.
4. Perform a Site Inspection — Before starting any job, be sure to inspect the job site to identify any hazards or challenges.
5. Written Contracts and Waivers — Provide your business with legal protection by ensuring all jobs have written contracts and waivers. This will reduce possible disputes and claims.

How to Choose the Best Insurance for Painters

Start by finding the right insurance agent!

A seasoned insurance agent or independent broker can assist you in assessing your coverage needs. That allows them to match you with the best policy options and coverage. An agent can also help you access multiple carriers to find the best insurance for painters.

Don’t hesitate to compare providers. You want to find an insurance expert with industry experience and knowledge, e.g., someone who works extensively with tradespeople.

Additionally, be sure to find a financially strong insurer that has a proven record of fast claims handling, 365/24/7 customer support, and a broad range of coverage options. Building a relationship with a strong representative provides a robust protection program that is tailored to your unique needs and will provide your business with long-term success.

PRO TIP: Review coverage annually or when big changes occur in your business. Consider business growth, changes in service areas, and expansion of services, revenue, or employee numbers. You can always find insurance quotes at einsurance.com to compare rates across the industry.

Final Thoughts

For now, and into the future, protect your painting business with comprehensive coverage, from painters’ liability insurance to workers’ compensation to commercial auto and more. Plus, proactive risk management and regular/annual policy reviews will ensure your company has the necessary coverage required to keep you and your employees safe.

You know painting inside and out — find an insurance expert who is thoroughly knowledgeable in their field to support you in protecting your business.

Contact einsurance.com to learn more about all types of business and personal insurance. We can help you compare insurance companies and answer your questions on professional painters’ insurance.